Death Sentence
Jul. 12th, 2009 09:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
veiledndarknessTitle: Watching Him 7/11
Author: veiledndarkness
Pairing: Billy/OFC
Rating: R
Summary: She sees everything, she’s watching him fall.
Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit made and no harm intended.
AU follows storyline of movie somewhat.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
XX
She waited, her stomach coiled into a tight ball of hurt and fear. She sat on the bar stool in the back room, her head lowered. Behind her, the noise from the bar was dimmed, a muted wave of noise blocked by the sound of her own shallow breaths.
Beth kept her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling with each passing minute. She swallowed hard, her throat painfully dry. “It’s happening now,” she whispered.
Somewhere, on some street in a neighborhood she’d only ever seen in the movies, Billy was stalking a family with murderous intent. Beth rested one hand over her necklace, fingering the cross nervously. “Please…God, for once…”
She shivered, imagining the fear, the cries for help that she knew would be echoing around the house, the cries unanswered, for not everything ended like one hoped. She could almost feel the pain and the unrelenting panic.
Beth clutched her necklace and began praying again.
X
They returned with somber faces and delighted eyes, filing into the bar, one after another. Beth hung back in the doorway to the back room, biting her lip. Billy strutted through the door, a lit cigarette clamped between his lips. He looked to the doorway, spotting her in the shadows. He smiled a little and headed over to her, taking the cigarette away from his mouth.
“Hey,” he said, looming over her, his scent clouding her senses for a moment.
Beth turned her head to the side. “Don’t.”
He blinked. “Don’t what?” he flicked the cigarette away from them, his bandaged hand moving along her shoulder.
“I know what you did,” she hissed, glaring at him. “What you did to his family.”
“That what got ya all ruffled up, huh?” he murmured. “Beth, don’t be mad, s’ what was gonna happen. He killed Joe, ‘member?”
Beth pushed at him. “And who killed his son? Let me go, Billy, I don’t have the energy to deal with you and your fucking twisted philosophies!”
“Philo-what?” he raised his eyebrows, “The fuck y’ on about?”
“Let me go, I have work to do,” she sighed, numb with frustration.
Billy smirked and leaned in more, his lips trailing along her neck, ghosting over her skin. “Mm, y’ sure ya wanna rush back t’ work?” he whispered.
A breathy sigh escaped her. “Billy…don’t,” she protested weakly. “I…not like this, not here.”
“If ya don’t regret earlier, then prove it.”
She snaked a hand up, gripping his shoulder. “I don’t, but please, not here? I…Not in front of everyone, ok?”
Billy grunted, annoyed. “Fine,” he let go of her, stealing a quick, possessive kiss, one that left her lips tingling long after he stepped away from her.
Beth touched a hand to her mouth, desire flooding her. She avoided the stares from the men nearby and ducked into the back room, her cheeks pink. She smoothed a hand over her hair, trembling.
“The hell was that, Bethie girl?” Sammy followed after her, the door slamming shut behind them.
“Nothing, it wasn’t anythin’,” Beth busied herself by lifting up a tray of clean mugs. The glass tinkled, bumping each other as she tried to keep it steady.
“Bullshit is what it is!” Sammy crossed his arms. “Girlie, you don’t need none of what he got.”
Beth steadied the tray. “I don’t need your advice. Or Eddie’s for that matter,” she said through tightly clenched teeth. “Stay out of it, please.”
“The hell I will,” Sammy gestured to her. “This ain’t no regular gang boy, s’ the big one, the dangerous one! Son of Bones motherfucking Darley, Bethie!”
“Well thanks for the reminder,” she snapped. “I almost forgot who signs my paychecks.”
Sammy crossed himself. “Bethie, you don’t need nothin’ like that in ya life. Girlie, Billy’s good but he ain’t no good for ya.”
And that was it, her temper snapped. Beth pushed the tray on to the nearest ledge, her face flushed with rage. “My choice, Sammy, it’s not yours! Do you hear me? I don’t care what anyone thinks. Billy’s not the fucking antichrist!”
He sighed. “Bethie girl, don’t be like that now, I jus’ wanna be sure you don’t get hurt, is all.”
Furious tears filled her eyes. “You and Eddie, the pair of you…I swear, I could scream. Where’s your loyalty, huh?”
“I got loyalty a’ right, but I also got some common fuckin’ sense,” Sammy growled. “An’ sleepin’ with the boss ain’t got no common fuckin’ sense t’ it.”
Beth untied her apron with shaking fingers. “You know what? You can finish this shit tonight. I’m leavin’ early.”
“Bethie…”
“No! I’ve…I’ve had enough for one day,” she dropped the apron on the bar stool and shoved the door open, her heart pounding. She weaved past the tables, nearly catching her hip on the pool table, unnoticed by the men playing a round.
X
A crack of thunder boomed, startling Beth out of a restless sleep. She sat up, one hand to her chest. She inhaled hard, her heart pounding. "Jesus..."
She rubbed at her eyes, her shoulders slumped. Sleep had proved elusive once again. Beth tugged her knees up and rested her head to them, watching the droplets of rain flick off the windowpanes. She sighed, the pounding of her heartbeat still echoing in her ears.
A new sound caught her ear, heavy footsteps in the hallway by her apartment door. Beth swallowed, an icy ball of fear growing. She pushed at her blankets and slipped off the bed, padding over to the hall. She tiptoed over to the peephole on the front door, her palms slick with sweat.
With a small groan, she opened the door, leaving the chain lock on. "Sir...I mean, Billy..."
He stared at her, wobbling a little. "Ya left."
"I-I...yeah," she licked her lower lip, unnerved by the flickering emotions in his bright blue eyes. "I'm sorry, I just..."
"Y' promised, an' you left," he took a step closer to the door. "Thought y' were different."
Beth inhaled slowly; the scent of Jack Daniels was thick in the air. She wrinkled her nose. "God..." she muttered, "Billy, go home. You're drunk...you drove here, didn't you?"
Billy shrugged, "Maybe. I wanted t' see you."
She closed the door and unlatched it, opening it again to look him over. “Half a bottle this time?" she asked.
He leaned in, his skin damp from the rain. "Half o' this an' half o' that, Bethie, lemme come in, I don't...don't wanna go back t' the Roses. I can't sleep there."
Beth frowned. She wanted to kick his ass back out in the rain. "Alright, but I swear, if you throw up all over, I'm makin' you clean it."
"I don' clean," Billy mumbled. "You clean."
"I clean for a living, that doesn't mean you can make a mess of my home," she chided him, locking the door after he'd stumbled through. "Here," she reached up, tugging at his jacket. "Billy...this is Joe's jacket."
Billy sniffed, nodding. "Seemed right, he's still wit' me, y' know?"
"Yeah...Yeah, I know," she tugged the jacket down his arms and shook the water off it before hanging it up. "Take your boots off."
With some effort, Billy managed to take his boots off. He followed behind her, picking at the bandage around his hand. Beth brought him to the bathroom and unwrapped his hand, ignoring his protests.
She cleaned the wounds again and re-wrapped his hand. "So many scars, Billy," she said, clucking her tongue, "Too many."
"Tells a story, somethin' for each one," he reached for her, pressing his face to her stomach and nuzzling the soft fabric of her nightgown. "But y' ain't interested in the stories. Y' ain't impressed by all that shit."
Beth looked down at him, her eyebrows raised. "I...No, I'm not," she rested her hands to his head, noting that he would need a shave again soon. He shuddered, holding tighter to her. She moved her hands over his head and down to his neck, rubbing gently. "You know why?"
"Why?"
"Cause each one means you either hurt yourself or someone hurt you, and neither one is a good thing."
Billy sniffed again and nodded. "Guess so."
"C'mon, we both need to sleep, Billy. Up."
He let go of her reluctantly and stood up, rubbing at his face with his hand. Beth took his hand, curling her fingers with his. He tensed for a moment before relaxing under the now familiar feel of her touch.
She led him to her bedroom and sat down on the bed. Billy tugged at his sweater, pulling it off with a grunt. He sat down, his scarred and tattooed chest on display. Beth took in a small breath. She'd seen it all before but never this up close.
She rested her hand on his chest, stroking one curved scar with her thumb. "Lie down," she coaxed. "You need to sleep the booze off."
Billy leaned backwards until he was lying next to her. He stretched out, his long body taking up most of her bed. Beth tugged the covers over them and curled onto her side, watching him.
He snaked his arm around her, pulling her closer. "Beth...I don't..."
"I know," she soothed. "You don't hafta say anything. I don't expect anything. Just lie down and sleep, ok?"
"Why do y' care?" he whispered finally. "Why...I don't understand."
"Because I do," she pressed against him, her head tucked under his chin. "I don't know why, but I do. Someone needs to love you."
"Even when I do bad shit?"
"Even then," she touched a hand to his chest again, feeling his heart beat under her palm. "You do terrible things, you did somethin' so bad tonight, but you still need someone to care about you."
Billy held onto her, his heart pounding harder. "I...Bethie, I did somethin' worse t' night."
Beth nodded, icy fear creeping up her spine. "I know, the man, Nick Hume..."
"I shot them, all of 'em."
She closed her eyes, her stomach churning. "Billy..."
"We broke in, Bodie took out the cops in the cruiser," he recited, his voice chillingly empty. "The boys brought them down, the mother...him an', an' his other boy."
She bit her lip hard. "Damn it, Billy. I asked you, I all but fucking begged you not to do this. And for what? Huh? What did she do to you? What did his son do to you? Not a damned thing!"
"Y' don't understand."
"No, you don't," she pulled away from him, her face flushed. "You don't get it and what's worse is you think you're right!"
He reached for her, naked fear on his face. "Don't leave..."
Beth sat back on the bed, wiping at her eyes. "I hate that you do this shit, it's not right, Billy! It's not! I hate the fact that I care so much...it'd be easier to turn a blind eye."
Billy held onto her, his head in her lap. "I don't...Beth, I don't know nothin' else but this."
"You have to want somethin' more, Billy," she rested one hand to his head, massaging his neck. "You hafta want to be different, and it's never gonna happen if you keep this kinda thing up."
He nodded, his eyes closing under the feel of her fingers. "If I was...would ya still care?"
"I can't make myself not care about you," Beth let go and slid down the bed, curling up again. "And I'm still pissed."
Billy kissed her neck, curling his legs around her. "I know y' mad, but I don't wanna be alone t' night," he whispered.
Beth shivered. "Don't. Sleep, Billy. I'm not doing...that...with you while you're drunk."
"Aw, don't be so cold, Bethie, I can make y' feel good."
"I said no. Unless you want to sleep in your car..."
He shook his head. "No, no car," he settled behind her, keeping her flush against his chest. "Y' look real sexy in that nightie though."
Despite herself, she smiled. "Thanks. Now sleep."
X
In the morning, Beth awoke to the sound of muffled retching in the bathroom. She squinted at the clock on top of her dresser and sighed. She heard the toilet flush and then the sound of running water. She sat up and stretched, cracking her back carefully.
Billy appeared in the doorway, his eyes glazed and red-rimmed. "Least I made it t' the toilet."
"Mm, thank god for that. I don't need to be cleanin' that kinda mess this early."
He nodded, leaning against the frame of the door. Beth slipped off the bed, aware of his eyes on her. "Coffee?" she asked, tugging her robe on.
"Yeah, s' fine," he grabbed his sweater and tugged it on. "Y' got a nice place here."
Beth tied the sash to her robe as she walked to the kitchen. "It's decent, small but decent. Rent's a bit high, but most places are." She started the coffee maker and looked in her fridge, pulling a few items out. She had no idea what, if anything, Billy ate for breakfast. "Do you eat in the mornings?" she called over her shoulder. "Or later, I've never seen you...Billy?"
He stood nearby, his thumb touching a dinged silver frame on the bookstand. "This you an' y' Mom?" he glanced at her, the oddest expression on his face.
Beth nodded slowly. "Yeah, a stranger took the picture for us when we at the park. It was the year before my mother died," she said, her voice catching.
"Y' look jus' like her," he murmured, walking away from the picture.
Beth swallowed, turning back to face the kitchen. "Thank you." She swallowed harder to keep her voice even. "Do you eat in the mornings?"
"No," Billy went with her, looking around the kitchen, "Vodka an' orange juice most o' the time."
"Lord..." Beth rolled her eyes. "Billy, that's not even remotely healthy!"
"Orange juice is good for ya, says so right on the carton."
She scowled at him. "Alright smartass, well today there will be no hair of the dog that bit you. Sit," she pointed to the table and chairs along the wall beside the kitchen.
He did so, rubbing one hand over his head. “Fuckin’ whisky knocks ya out, man.”
“Maybe you should consider slowing down when drinkin’, huh?”
“I don’t need no advice from…” he started to say.
Beth washed her hands and looked away from him. “Well say it then, Billy,” she held her hands under the hot water. “Don’t need advice from your cleaning girl, right? Cause what the fuck would I know? I’ve only been around you guys for eight years.”
“Beth…I don’t mean it like that,” Billy protested. “C’mon, don’t get all contrary on me.”
She nodded silently and resumed preparing the breakfast. Billy exhaled heavily and got up, walking up behind her. “Don’t be like that,” he said, resting his hands on her hips. “Y’ know you’re not jus’ some cleanin’ girl.”
“You act like it. No one else takes care of you fools like me, but I’m invisible,” she whispered, mixing the pancake batter with wide, forceful strokes of the wooden spoon.
“I see ya, I always see ya,” Billy untied the sash to her robe, his lips trailing along her neck. “An’ you’re the best thing I know, the only good thin’ left.”
“Billy,” Beth held onto the counter, her chest hitching. “I need to cook…” she protested, hating how fast she caved to his searching fingers.
He tilted her head back, nipping her throat. “Food can wait,” he nearly purred.
Beth closed her eyes as she gave in, her earlier anger with him lost in the way he touched her, in the way he held her so carefully against him.
X
Author: veiledndarkness
Pairing: Billy/OFC
Rating: R
Summary: She sees everything, she’s watching him fall.
Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit made and no harm intended.
AU follows storyline of movie somewhat.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
XX
She waited, her stomach coiled into a tight ball of hurt and fear. She sat on the bar stool in the back room, her head lowered. Behind her, the noise from the bar was dimmed, a muted wave of noise blocked by the sound of her own shallow breaths.
Beth kept her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling with each passing minute. She swallowed hard, her throat painfully dry. “It’s happening now,” she whispered.
Somewhere, on some street in a neighborhood she’d only ever seen in the movies, Billy was stalking a family with murderous intent. Beth rested one hand over her necklace, fingering the cross nervously. “Please…God, for once…”
She shivered, imagining the fear, the cries for help that she knew would be echoing around the house, the cries unanswered, for not everything ended like one hoped. She could almost feel the pain and the unrelenting panic.
Beth clutched her necklace and began praying again.
X
They returned with somber faces and delighted eyes, filing into the bar, one after another. Beth hung back in the doorway to the back room, biting her lip. Billy strutted through the door, a lit cigarette clamped between his lips. He looked to the doorway, spotting her in the shadows. He smiled a little and headed over to her, taking the cigarette away from his mouth.
“Hey,” he said, looming over her, his scent clouding her senses for a moment.
Beth turned her head to the side. “Don’t.”
He blinked. “Don’t what?” he flicked the cigarette away from them, his bandaged hand moving along her shoulder.
“I know what you did,” she hissed, glaring at him. “What you did to his family.”
“That what got ya all ruffled up, huh?” he murmured. “Beth, don’t be mad, s’ what was gonna happen. He killed Joe, ‘member?”
Beth pushed at him. “And who killed his son? Let me go, Billy, I don’t have the energy to deal with you and your fucking twisted philosophies!”
“Philo-what?” he raised his eyebrows, “The fuck y’ on about?”
“Let me go, I have work to do,” she sighed, numb with frustration.
Billy smirked and leaned in more, his lips trailing along her neck, ghosting over her skin. “Mm, y’ sure ya wanna rush back t’ work?” he whispered.
A breathy sigh escaped her. “Billy…don’t,” she protested weakly. “I…not like this, not here.”
“If ya don’t regret earlier, then prove it.”
She snaked a hand up, gripping his shoulder. “I don’t, but please, not here? I…Not in front of everyone, ok?”
Billy grunted, annoyed. “Fine,” he let go of her, stealing a quick, possessive kiss, one that left her lips tingling long after he stepped away from her.
Beth touched a hand to her mouth, desire flooding her. She avoided the stares from the men nearby and ducked into the back room, her cheeks pink. She smoothed a hand over her hair, trembling.
“The hell was that, Bethie girl?” Sammy followed after her, the door slamming shut behind them.
“Nothing, it wasn’t anythin’,” Beth busied herself by lifting up a tray of clean mugs. The glass tinkled, bumping each other as she tried to keep it steady.
“Bullshit is what it is!” Sammy crossed his arms. “Girlie, you don’t need none of what he got.”
Beth steadied the tray. “I don’t need your advice. Or Eddie’s for that matter,” she said through tightly clenched teeth. “Stay out of it, please.”
“The hell I will,” Sammy gestured to her. “This ain’t no regular gang boy, s’ the big one, the dangerous one! Son of Bones motherfucking Darley, Bethie!”
“Well thanks for the reminder,” she snapped. “I almost forgot who signs my paychecks.”
Sammy crossed himself. “Bethie, you don’t need nothin’ like that in ya life. Girlie, Billy’s good but he ain’t no good for ya.”
And that was it, her temper snapped. Beth pushed the tray on to the nearest ledge, her face flushed with rage. “My choice, Sammy, it’s not yours! Do you hear me? I don’t care what anyone thinks. Billy’s not the fucking antichrist!”
He sighed. “Bethie girl, don’t be like that now, I jus’ wanna be sure you don’t get hurt, is all.”
Furious tears filled her eyes. “You and Eddie, the pair of you…I swear, I could scream. Where’s your loyalty, huh?”
“I got loyalty a’ right, but I also got some common fuckin’ sense,” Sammy growled. “An’ sleepin’ with the boss ain’t got no common fuckin’ sense t’ it.”
Beth untied her apron with shaking fingers. “You know what? You can finish this shit tonight. I’m leavin’ early.”
“Bethie…”
“No! I’ve…I’ve had enough for one day,” she dropped the apron on the bar stool and shoved the door open, her heart pounding. She weaved past the tables, nearly catching her hip on the pool table, unnoticed by the men playing a round.
X
A crack of thunder boomed, startling Beth out of a restless sleep. She sat up, one hand to her chest. She inhaled hard, her heart pounding. "Jesus..."
She rubbed at her eyes, her shoulders slumped. Sleep had proved elusive once again. Beth tugged her knees up and rested her head to them, watching the droplets of rain flick off the windowpanes. She sighed, the pounding of her heartbeat still echoing in her ears.
A new sound caught her ear, heavy footsteps in the hallway by her apartment door. Beth swallowed, an icy ball of fear growing. She pushed at her blankets and slipped off the bed, padding over to the hall. She tiptoed over to the peephole on the front door, her palms slick with sweat.
With a small groan, she opened the door, leaving the chain lock on. "Sir...I mean, Billy..."
He stared at her, wobbling a little. "Ya left."
"I-I...yeah," she licked her lower lip, unnerved by the flickering emotions in his bright blue eyes. "I'm sorry, I just..."
"Y' promised, an' you left," he took a step closer to the door. "Thought y' were different."
Beth inhaled slowly; the scent of Jack Daniels was thick in the air. She wrinkled her nose. "God..." she muttered, "Billy, go home. You're drunk...you drove here, didn't you?"
Billy shrugged, "Maybe. I wanted t' see you."
She closed the door and unlatched it, opening it again to look him over. “Half a bottle this time?" she asked.
He leaned in, his skin damp from the rain. "Half o' this an' half o' that, Bethie, lemme come in, I don't...don't wanna go back t' the Roses. I can't sleep there."
Beth frowned. She wanted to kick his ass back out in the rain. "Alright, but I swear, if you throw up all over, I'm makin' you clean it."
"I don' clean," Billy mumbled. "You clean."
"I clean for a living, that doesn't mean you can make a mess of my home," she chided him, locking the door after he'd stumbled through. "Here," she reached up, tugging at his jacket. "Billy...this is Joe's jacket."
Billy sniffed, nodding. "Seemed right, he's still wit' me, y' know?"
"Yeah...Yeah, I know," she tugged the jacket down his arms and shook the water off it before hanging it up. "Take your boots off."
With some effort, Billy managed to take his boots off. He followed behind her, picking at the bandage around his hand. Beth brought him to the bathroom and unwrapped his hand, ignoring his protests.
She cleaned the wounds again and re-wrapped his hand. "So many scars, Billy," she said, clucking her tongue, "Too many."
"Tells a story, somethin' for each one," he reached for her, pressing his face to her stomach and nuzzling the soft fabric of her nightgown. "But y' ain't interested in the stories. Y' ain't impressed by all that shit."
Beth looked down at him, her eyebrows raised. "I...No, I'm not," she rested her hands to his head, noting that he would need a shave again soon. He shuddered, holding tighter to her. She moved her hands over his head and down to his neck, rubbing gently. "You know why?"
"Why?"
"Cause each one means you either hurt yourself or someone hurt you, and neither one is a good thing."
Billy sniffed again and nodded. "Guess so."
"C'mon, we both need to sleep, Billy. Up."
He let go of her reluctantly and stood up, rubbing at his face with his hand. Beth took his hand, curling her fingers with his. He tensed for a moment before relaxing under the now familiar feel of her touch.
She led him to her bedroom and sat down on the bed. Billy tugged at his sweater, pulling it off with a grunt. He sat down, his scarred and tattooed chest on display. Beth took in a small breath. She'd seen it all before but never this up close.
She rested her hand on his chest, stroking one curved scar with her thumb. "Lie down," she coaxed. "You need to sleep the booze off."
Billy leaned backwards until he was lying next to her. He stretched out, his long body taking up most of her bed. Beth tugged the covers over them and curled onto her side, watching him.
He snaked his arm around her, pulling her closer. "Beth...I don't..."
"I know," she soothed. "You don't hafta say anything. I don't expect anything. Just lie down and sleep, ok?"
"Why do y' care?" he whispered finally. "Why...I don't understand."
"Because I do," she pressed against him, her head tucked under his chin. "I don't know why, but I do. Someone needs to love you."
"Even when I do bad shit?"
"Even then," she touched a hand to his chest again, feeling his heart beat under her palm. "You do terrible things, you did somethin' so bad tonight, but you still need someone to care about you."
Billy held onto her, his heart pounding harder. "I...Bethie, I did somethin' worse t' night."
Beth nodded, icy fear creeping up her spine. "I know, the man, Nick Hume..."
"I shot them, all of 'em."
She closed her eyes, her stomach churning. "Billy..."
"We broke in, Bodie took out the cops in the cruiser," he recited, his voice chillingly empty. "The boys brought them down, the mother...him an', an' his other boy."
She bit her lip hard. "Damn it, Billy. I asked you, I all but fucking begged you not to do this. And for what? Huh? What did she do to you? What did his son do to you? Not a damned thing!"
"Y' don't understand."
"No, you don't," she pulled away from him, her face flushed. "You don't get it and what's worse is you think you're right!"
He reached for her, naked fear on his face. "Don't leave..."
Beth sat back on the bed, wiping at her eyes. "I hate that you do this shit, it's not right, Billy! It's not! I hate the fact that I care so much...it'd be easier to turn a blind eye."
Billy held onto her, his head in her lap. "I don't...Beth, I don't know nothin' else but this."
"You have to want somethin' more, Billy," she rested one hand to his head, massaging his neck. "You hafta want to be different, and it's never gonna happen if you keep this kinda thing up."
He nodded, his eyes closing under the feel of her fingers. "If I was...would ya still care?"
"I can't make myself not care about you," Beth let go and slid down the bed, curling up again. "And I'm still pissed."
Billy kissed her neck, curling his legs around her. "I know y' mad, but I don't wanna be alone t' night," he whispered.
Beth shivered. "Don't. Sleep, Billy. I'm not doing...that...with you while you're drunk."
"Aw, don't be so cold, Bethie, I can make y' feel good."
"I said no. Unless you want to sleep in your car..."
He shook his head. "No, no car," he settled behind her, keeping her flush against his chest. "Y' look real sexy in that nightie though."
Despite herself, she smiled. "Thanks. Now sleep."
X
In the morning, Beth awoke to the sound of muffled retching in the bathroom. She squinted at the clock on top of her dresser and sighed. She heard the toilet flush and then the sound of running water. She sat up and stretched, cracking her back carefully.
Billy appeared in the doorway, his eyes glazed and red-rimmed. "Least I made it t' the toilet."
"Mm, thank god for that. I don't need to be cleanin' that kinda mess this early."
He nodded, leaning against the frame of the door. Beth slipped off the bed, aware of his eyes on her. "Coffee?" she asked, tugging her robe on.
"Yeah, s' fine," he grabbed his sweater and tugged it on. "Y' got a nice place here."
Beth tied the sash to her robe as she walked to the kitchen. "It's decent, small but decent. Rent's a bit high, but most places are." She started the coffee maker and looked in her fridge, pulling a few items out. She had no idea what, if anything, Billy ate for breakfast. "Do you eat in the mornings?" she called over her shoulder. "Or later, I've never seen you...Billy?"
He stood nearby, his thumb touching a dinged silver frame on the bookstand. "This you an' y' Mom?" he glanced at her, the oddest expression on his face.
Beth nodded slowly. "Yeah, a stranger took the picture for us when we at the park. It was the year before my mother died," she said, her voice catching.
"Y' look jus' like her," he murmured, walking away from the picture.
Beth swallowed, turning back to face the kitchen. "Thank you." She swallowed harder to keep her voice even. "Do you eat in the mornings?"
"No," Billy went with her, looking around the kitchen, "Vodka an' orange juice most o' the time."
"Lord..." Beth rolled her eyes. "Billy, that's not even remotely healthy!"
"Orange juice is good for ya, says so right on the carton."
She scowled at him. "Alright smartass, well today there will be no hair of the dog that bit you. Sit," she pointed to the table and chairs along the wall beside the kitchen.
He did so, rubbing one hand over his head. “Fuckin’ whisky knocks ya out, man.”
“Maybe you should consider slowing down when drinkin’, huh?”
“I don’t need no advice from…” he started to say.
Beth washed her hands and looked away from him. “Well say it then, Billy,” she held her hands under the hot water. “Don’t need advice from your cleaning girl, right? Cause what the fuck would I know? I’ve only been around you guys for eight years.”
“Beth…I don’t mean it like that,” Billy protested. “C’mon, don’t get all contrary on me.”
She nodded silently and resumed preparing the breakfast. Billy exhaled heavily and got up, walking up behind her. “Don’t be like that,” he said, resting his hands on her hips. “Y’ know you’re not jus’ some cleanin’ girl.”
“You act like it. No one else takes care of you fools like me, but I’m invisible,” she whispered, mixing the pancake batter with wide, forceful strokes of the wooden spoon.
“I see ya, I always see ya,” Billy untied the sash to her robe, his lips trailing along her neck. “An’ you’re the best thing I know, the only good thin’ left.”
“Billy,” Beth held onto the counter, her chest hitching. “I need to cook…” she protested, hating how fast she caved to his searching fingers.
He tilted her head back, nipping her throat. “Food can wait,” he nearly purred.
Beth closed her eyes as she gave in, her earlier anger with him lost in the way he touched her, in the way he held her so carefully against him.
X
